U.S. stock indexes extend rise in February

MARKETWATCH FRONT PAGE

U.S. stock indexes trim healthy monthly gains after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke curbs expectations of additional quantitative easing. See full story.

10 best places to retire in the U.S.

Where are the best places to retire in the U.S.? The absolute best cities and towns for older Americans have certain characteristics such as good weather, access to health care, low property taxes, and a certain �wow� factor. Take a look at these retirement spots, based on the top picks from editors at TopRetirements.com. See full story.

10 ways to get the most out of your IRA

There are plenty of little-known ways to get the most out of your IRA � strategies that you should revisit at least once per year. And tax season, when you�re trying hard to reduce your income-tax bill, is a good time. See full story.

IRA strategies to lower your tax bills

Higher tax rates are coming in the years ahead � that seems all but certain. So how to manage your retirement accounts given that prospect? At a recent MarketWatch Retirement Adviser event, two experts spoke about strategies to mitigate the negative effect of taxes on retirement savings. See full story.

U.S. grew a revised 3% in fourth quarter

The U.S. economy grew 3% in the fourth quarter � faster than originally reported � mainly because of increased commercial construction, higher consumer spending and lower imports. The government initially reported fourth-quarter growth at 2.8%. See full story.

MARKETWATCH COMMENTARY

Instead of acknowledging that banks have become a part of government, we keep pretending they are private institutions, writes David Weidner. See full story.

MARKETWATCH PERSONAL FINANCE

Americans are falling behind on savings and need to catch up. Here�s how. See full story.